The
Johnson County Board of Supervisors recently voted on a proclamation declaring June to be
Pride Month:
PROCLAMATION
PRIDE MONTH
JUNE 2019
Whereas, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) communities across the nation annually celebrate pride in their culture and community in the month of June; and
Whereas, the annual celebration of Pride began as a collective protest for the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals and communities; and
Whereas, the annual celebration of Pride began as a collective freedom in expressing gender identity; and
Whereas, the national tradition of celebrating Pride in June is a tribute to the Stonewell Riots of June 1969, which are remembered as the launch of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement; and
Whereas, transgender people of color, including Marsha P. Johnson, Silvia Rivera, and Storme DeLarverie, were primary leaders in the Stonewell expression of just treatment for LGBTQ+ people, and often gave their work and lives to the cause; and
Whereas, Johnson County recognizes the many LGBTQ+ lives that continue to be lost each year in pursuit of living out their authentic identities, in particular transgender people of color; and
Whereas, Johnson County welcomes and accepts people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions, and is proud to celebrate the contributions and culture of these citizens; and
Whereas, each year, Iowa City Pride brings together thousands of LGBTQ+ people from across Iowa and beyond to celebrate their shared identities and experiences; and
Whereas, Iowa City Pride will celebrate its 49th Annual Pride Festival, and the 50th anniversity of Stonewall June 10-16, 2019.
Now, therefore, be it resolved that we, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors, do hereby proclaim the month of June 2019 to be PRIDE MONTH and encourage Johnson County residents to recognize the many contributions that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals and communities have made to our County.
The Pride proclamation was received on May 30, 2019, by members of the Iowa City Pride Committee and the County Employee Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
